Life-saving apparatus.



P. M. FREELY.

LIFE SAVING APPAflATUs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1912.

1,1 16,582. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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iv c', 54% a %W P. M. FREELY.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ATHLG, 1912.

1,1 1 6,582. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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PETER M. FREEIIY, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

LIFE-SAVING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Application filed August 6, 1912. Serial No. 713,691.

To all whomit may concern: c

Be it known that 1, PETER M. FREELY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in life saving apparatusadapted for use especially 011 ships at sea, and the pri mary object ofthe invention is to provide relatively simple apparatus of this kindwhich is capable of being put into use quickly and without requiringskill on the part of the user and which when occupled by the user willassume a correct position upon entering the Water and will float in thewater in a horizontal position with the occupant in a recliningposition, that part of the apparatus which protects or incloses theupper portion of the occupants body being turned upwardly or extendedangularly with respect to the body of the apparatus and having anopening through which the occupant may enter and leave the apparatusaswell as receive air for breathing,

the apparatus being collapsible so that it may occupy a relatively smallspace when not in use, and when expanded or opened, a framework servesto maintain the apparatus in proper form.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a hood for the openingthrough which the user may enter and leave the apparatus, this hoodembodying two collapsible sections, means being provided for securingboth of the sections in expanded position, thereby closing completelythe opening in the apparatus and thus protecting the 00- cupant fromstormy weather or the entrance of water, and means being also providedfor holding one of the hood sections in expanded condition to protectthe occupant without, however, completely closing the opening in theapparatus.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lifesavlng apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodimentoi the invention, the apparatus in this figure bemg shown e) panded toindicate the manner in which it is to be used; Fig. 2 is a perspectlveview showing the apparatus in collapsed form and 1n condition to bestored; Pig. 3 rep-,

resents a central longitudinal section of the apparatus showing the sameexpanded and with both sections of the hood closed; Fig. i represents anenlarged section of the collapsible hood and the adjacent portion of theapparatus, one of the hood sections being shown expanded and the otherhood section being shown collapsed; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. i,but showing both hood sections collapsed; Fig. 6 represents an enlargedsection 011 the line 66 of Fig, 3.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in theseveral views.

Life saving apparatus embodying the present invention is particularlyadapted for the use of passengers or other persons float in a positionthatwill be most comfortable for the occupant. In that form o'l theinvention shown, the apparatus embodies a collapsible structure composedof a body section 1, leg sections 2, an upturned c section 3 toaccommodate the upper portion of the body and the head of the occupant,and a hood section 4: which may be opened or closed as conditions may require. The body section is provided with a suitable number of annularribs 5 which extend circumferentially of the body portion and with theiraxes arranged longitudinally of the apparatus, these ribs beingpreferably of graduated diameters with the larger ribs toward the upperend of the apparatus to enable the ribs to telescope when the apparatusis collapsed. The leg sections 2 are also provided with annular ribs orhoops 6 which extendcircumferentially of the leg sections with theiraxes in parallelism and arranged longitudinally of the apparatus, theseribs or hoops for the leg sections being also preferably graduated indiameter toenable them to telescope when the apparatus is collapsed. Thebottoms of the leg sections are closed by the end walls 7. The section 3which is adapted to accommodate the upper portion of the body and thehead of the occupant is curved or extended at an angle upwardly withreenable the occupant to lie in a reclining position with his head andshoulders at the proper elevation. In order to maintain the angularportion 3 of the apparatus in proper curved or angular form, it isp1:o-.

vided with a suitable number of substan tially rigid ribs or hoops 8,which are arranged in radiating relation and are "secured together attheir apices by an angle iron, bracket or equivalent device 9, toprovide for the pivotal movement requisite to enable the structure to beexpanded and collapsed. The relatively rigid ribs or hoops for thedifferent sections of the ap paratus are covered by a casing 10 offlexible waterproof material which permits the apparatus to be folded orcollapsed easily, although when the apparatus is expanded, this casingwill effectually exclude water, especially when the ribs or hoops arearranged at the inner side thereof, as shown.

The apparatus is so constructed that it will float in the water in asubstantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3, the: angularlyextending portion 3 of the apparatus being upturned to prevent the en-itrance of water to the apparatus and to supply air to the occupant.However, to prevent sinking of the apparatus should the' same leak, afloat 11 may be provided, that shown in the present instance being inthe form of an annular air tube which is SG', cured around the upperportion of the angul larly directed extension portion 3 of the apiparatus, with its axis preferably in alinement with the axis of theaforesaid up-.

turned extension 3.

However, to exclude water from this open-1 ing and to protect theoccupant from the weather, the hood 4 is provided. This hood is composedof two structurally independent sections 12 and 13, which are eachpreferably in the form of a quarter of a sphere and composedrespectively of flexible waterproof coverings lei and 15 secured attheir lower edges and sides by a supporting frame 16, and semi-circularribs 17 and 18 are provided which maintain the hood sections in properform. These ribs 17 and 18 for the hood sections are pivotally connectedat the opposite. sides of the opening to brackets 19 provided atdiametrically opposite" points on frame 16 whereby either or both of thehood sections may be expanded and collapsed as may be desired. WVhe'nthe hood sections are collapsed, they lie within the float or airchamber 11. When both hood sections are expanded, they completely closethe top of the section 3 and they may be retained in closed position bya lacing 20 which may cooperate with lacing studs 01' hooks 21 on theadjacent ribs 17 and 18 of the respective hood sections. This lacing maybe readily applied and removed by the occupant within the apparatus. Insome instances, it may be desirable or necessary to collapse one of thehood sections and to expand the other into the position as shown inFigs. 1 and 4. In order to retain the hood sectionin expanded position,a member 22 preferably constituted by a cord or strap is used, thismember being secured tothe outermost rib 17 at one end and beingfastened at its opposite end to the angle iron 9 which latter serves toretain the ribs or hoops 8 in proper position. The hood is supported inproper position by the frame 16 which surrounds the upper end of thesection 3, this frame cooperating with a complemental frame 23, and aset of toggle braces 24 are interposed between the frames 16 and 23.These braces serve when expanded and locked to retain the frames 16 and23 in separated relation, and, when unlocked, and

folded they permit this part of the apparatus to be collapsed intocompact form. The

toggle braces are pivotally connected at their ends to the frames 16 and23 respectively and are pivotally connected at their centers, thetoggles moving in a direction parallel 'to the wall of the casing orcovering material while being expanded and folded.

I claim as my invention 1. Life saving apparatus of the characterdescribed embodying a flexible casing adapted to inclose the body of theoccupant and 3 comprising a longitudinal section adapted The extension 3serves as a support for the l shoulders and upper portion of the bodyofi the occupant, and is open at the top whereby the occupant may enterand leave the apparatus and also obtain air for breathing.

to occupy a horizontal position in the water, an upturned portionextending 'atan 1..

said upturned portion, an annular complemental frame connected to saidupturned portion below the first-named frame and having a pivotalconnection with the latter, devices between said frames for expandingand collapsing them, and a hood consisting of front and rearstructurallyindependent sections connected along their Tl lower edges;to said first-named frame and adapted to be expanded or collapsed eithersingly or together.

2. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying a flexiblecasing adapted to inclose the body of the occupant and comprising alongitudinal section adapted to occupy a horizontal position in theWater, an upturned portion extending at an angle to the longitudinalsection, and a.

hood connected to said upturned portion; in combination with an annularfloat encircling said upturned portion and secured thereto.

3. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying a casingadapted to inclose the body of the occupant, and a hood consisting ofstructurally-independent complemental flexible sections connected to theupper end of said casing and adapted to be expanded or collapsed eithersingly or together, means for connecting said sections together whenboth are expanded, and means for supporting the rear section in expandedposition when the front section is collapsed.

4. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying acollapsible structure comprising connected body and leg sections, anupturned section connected to the body section and extending at an angletherefrom, and a hood connected to said upturned section and consistingof a pair of structurally-independent sections adapted to be expanded orcollapsed either singly or to gether; in combination with an annularfloat encircling said upturned section and connected thereto, saidupturned section being provided with radiallyarranged annular ribshaving a common pivotal connection to permit them to be swung together,said leg and body sections being provided with circumferentiallyarrangedannular ribs of graduated diameters, whereby they may be telescoped, andsaid hood sections being arranged to lie within said upturned section,when the apparatus is collapsed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PETER M. FREELY.

Witnesses: J osnrrr V. LAFFAN, HARRY SEGIEL, 2nd.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

